Moms

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County Cooperative Extension is accepting applications for its 2015 4-H Summer Camp. 4-H Summer Camp is something to consider for your kids to experience creative fun and memories without heating up your wallet or credit card bills.

“Our 4- H Summer Camp has an exciting program for every age,” states Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension. “From the Clover Leaf Camp to the Senior Camp, students will enjoy the activities, make friends and create lifetime memories.”

Summer Camps:

Cloverleaf Camp is for grades 5th-6th. It will be held June 29-July 3, 2015 at Rock Eagle in Eaton. The cost is $295*. Participants will experience Pioneer Camping.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- The journey to motherhood is different for every woman. Usually, the first decision she will make as a mom will be how to feed her child.

Fulton County Cooperative Extension, in partnership with WellCare, will sponsor lactation and nutrition education classes to provide facts about breastfeeding and to give practical tips on how to make breastfeeding work while getting the support every mother needs. Pre-registration is required.

The classes will take place at 10 a.m. in the Cooperative Extension office which is located on the first floor of the Central Atlanta Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square, Suite 109, Atlanta. Classes will be held:

* Wednesday, March 11* Thursday, April 23* Thursday, May 14* Thursday, October 15

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- As residents string up the lights and ignite the candles, the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department encourages everyone to keep fire safety in mind.

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), fires involving Christmas trees caused more than $16 million in property damage per year between 2004 and 2008. Holiday lights and other decorative lighting caused more than $8 million dollars in property damage per year over that same time period.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- In the event that power goes out for an extended period of time in your neighborhood, Fulton County Cooperative Extension, the food preservation specialists and food safety specialists at the University of Georgia want you to know that the food in your refrigerator and freezer may be saved if you take special care during the outage.

“There are several steps a family can take to protect the food they have stored in their refrigerator and freezer,” states Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension. “Being careful to follow the recommendations from UGA should help in keeping your family safe.”

First, unplug the freezer and refrigerator, as well as other appliances, to protect them from electricity surges when power returns. Also make sure everyone in your household knows not to open the refrigerator or freezer doors; keeping the doors closed will keep the food cold for a longer period of time.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Georgia apple season in here! This means it’s time to make canned apples and make apple jellies and preserves. According to Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension, creating a delicious apple dish is a project the entire family will love.

To create your apple “masterpiece”, you must have the proper ratio of fruit, pectin (assists in gel creation), acid (needed for gel formation and flavor) and sugar (serves as the preservative for the product) or successful jellied products. Fruit low in acid or pectin may need additional acid or pectin added to ensure a proper gel formation.

According to Chester, the most common questions regarding how jellies, jams, fruit preserves, and fruit butters made have equally common responses:

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- As the school year moves into high gear, the Fulton County Office of Children and Youth urges parents to help children to transition successfully into their new school year by playing an active role in their children’s education. The U.S. Department of Education reports that homework helps children to gain an edge by providing extra time for research, development of study skills and time management skills.

“Homework helps children to remember and master material that has already been presented in the classroom and assists them with preparation for future classroom activities,” said Melinda Pruitt, Division Manager for the Office of Children and Youth. Homework allows children to achieve the following skills:

Sonic Sensation, an educational traveling exhibit developed by the Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York, will be featured in Atlanta Feb. 15 to June 1 to teach children the anatomy, measurement and science of sound.

“Families will be all ears when they hear about Sonic Sensation,” said Jane Turner, executive director of The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. “This highly engaging exhibit offers a fun and informative opportunity for children to experience the sonic world and sensation of being surrounded by everyday sounds. The interactive components and activities directly align with our mission to spark imagination and inspire discovery and learning for all children through the power of play.”